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Bakugo’s hands were smeared with dust and soot as he helped guide a family of three to safety. The temporary relief center had been set up after the chaos erupted downtown, civilians streaming in from all directions, panicked and terrified. But even amid the chaos, his eyes couldn’t leave the massive screen hanging above the evacuation zone.
Shoto Todoroki was out there, alone, fighting One For All.
Bakugo’s jaw tightened, his grip on the little girl’s hand firm. “Stay close,” he muttered, not even looking at her. The father’s anxious eyes met his, and Bakugo offered a curt nod—don’t panic, just move. But in his chest, a storm raged.
The screen flickered, and Shoto appeared in the frame, flames licking at one side of his body while frost cracked across the other. Deku moved opposite him, One For All coursing through every fiber of his body, green energy radiating outward in pulses. The clash of their powers made the screen tremble.
Bakugo swallowed hard. “Damn it, Shoto…” he muttered, voice low. He knew Todoroki was strong, hell, maybe stronger than most, but seeing him push himself like this—no, seeing him risk everything—made Bakugo’s chest tighten painfully. Flames and ice tore the landscape apart, smoke rising in a thick curtain that obscured the view at times, but every strike, every move, was crystal clear on the screen.
Shoto’s eyes were locked on Deku. I can’t lose. Not now.
The green energy surged forward, Deku landing a powerful One For All punch aimed directly at Shoto’s chest. Instinctively, Shoto countered with a simultaneous blast: ice shot from his left, forming jagged spikes that met Deku’s force, while fire surged from his right, propelling him backward. He landed on the rubble-strewn street with barely a sound, both sides of his body smoking, frozen streaks along his left arm and flames licking his hairline.
Deku staggered but recovered quickly, one fist glowing bright green as he advanced. “Shoto! Don’t hold back!” Deku shouted, his voice echoing in the ruined cityscape. The wind from their collision whipped up debris and ash.
Shoto’s teeth clenched. I can’t. I have to control it. He wiped sweat from his brow, frost forming and melting simultaneously across his skin as he launched another barrage. Flames roared in tandem, twisting around ice and creating an almost blinding explosion of energy that sent a shockwave down the street. The ground cracked beneath them.
Bakugo’s fist slammed against the wall of the evacuation center, dust flying into the air. He had to keep the civilians safe, but he couldn’t stop staring. He could see every detail—Shoto’s hands shaking slightly as he pushed his quirks, Deku’s desperation and determination, the green glow of One For All threatening to overwhelm them both.
“Come on, Shoto!” Bakugo growled, teeth gritted. “You’re stronger than this. Show him who the hell you are!”
The little girl tugged on his sleeve. “Sir… are they… are they okay?”
Bakugo’s heart clenched. “They’ll be fine. Just… watch your step, alright?” His voice was harsher than he intended, but he didn’t have the energy to soften it. Not now.
Shoto forced himself to steady his breathing. Every strike against Deku was a tug-of-war on his body. Fire burned in his lungs, ice bit into his skin, but he refused to falter. He had to protect everyone—this battle wasn’t just about him, it was about the people depending on heroes to hold the line.
Deku launched another attack, fast and precise. Shoto dodged, flipping backward over the rubble. His fire ignited the street, melting ice just enough to launch sharp shards at Deku. The punch Deku sent was dodged, but the force of One For All slammed into Shoto’s side, knocking him to his knees.
Pain shot through him, but he forced his body to rise. Flames and ice flared in perfect harmony, energy surging through his veins. I can’t stop. Not yet.
Bakugo’s hands were shaking as he adjusted the screen’s angle. “Come on, Shoto… don’t you dare get hurt.” He felt ridiculous, yelling at a screen like a fool, but it didn’t matter. The sight of Shoto pushing past exhaustion, the strain on his face, the raw power—it was almost too much. His chest ached in a way Bakugo didn’t understand. Pride, worry… maybe a little more than that.
A new alarm rang through the relief center, a building on the edge of the evacuation zone starting to collapse. Bakugo didn’t hesitate—he sprinted toward it, helping civilians out, his mind split between immediate danger and the screen above. Even while saving lives, he couldn’t take his eyes off Shoto’s every movement.
Shoto roared, ice spikes forming at a blistering speed as he dodged a powerful punch from Deku. Flames danced across the opposite side of his body, creating a tornado of energy around him. He had never fought like this, never had to balance both sides of his quirk and counter One For All at the same time. Sweat dripped down his face, freezing instantly on one side, burning him on the other.
Deku’s eyes widened as Shoto’s attack hit, sending him sprawling back several meters. “Shoto… how—?” Green energy crackled along Deku’s arms, his body trembling from the force of Shoto’s dual quirk.
Shoto’s breathing was heavy, ragged, but his gaze was unwavering. “I… can’t stop!” he yelled, ice and fire converging into a final, massive blast. The ground beneath them split as the explosion rippled outward. Dust, debris, and sparks filled the air.
Bakugo ducked under falling rubble, his coat torn, dirt streaked across his face. He had just saved a group of civilians, setting them down in a safe corner, but the screen was shaking violently from the aftershock. Shoto was still moving, still fighting, still… alive. His heart pounded.
“You idiot,” Bakugo muttered under his breath. “Stop risking yourself like this!”
A firefighter ran past him, shouting orders. Bakugo barely registered it. He couldn’t tear his gaze from the screen. Shoto’s balance of fire and ice was incredible, precise but brutal. Every strike was a message: I won’t fail. I can’t.
Deku gritted his teeth, One For All flaring brighter than ever. He launched himself at Shoto, fists glowing green, each punch faster and stronger than the last. Shoto countered with a sweeping wave of ice and a scorching blast of fire, pushing Deku back with a force that shook the rubble beneath them.
“I… won’t lose!” Deku shouted, almost a whisper against the roar of energy.
Shoto’s body trembled, a mix of exhaustion and adrenaline fueling him. I can do this. I have to… Flames roared across one side, ice spread across the other. He dodged, weaved, struck back—every move calculated, every strike precise, a dance of duality that neither fire nor ice could dominate alone.
Bakugo sank against a wall for a moment, breathing hard. He was exhausted, dirty, bruised, and still helping where he could, but the sight of Shoto—his Shoto—pushing through every limit while Deku matched him blow for blow… it was almost too much to watch.
His hand clenched the edge of the screen. “Come back to me, damn it.”
The screen shook again as Shoto launched his final assault. Ice spikes formed a barrier, fire twisted into a spear, and he lunged at Deku with a roar that echoed over the city streets. Deku countered, green energy flaring, and the collision sent a shockwave that flattened debris for dozens of meters. Both boys were on their knees afterward, breathing hard, bruised, clothes torn.
And then… a small, almost imperceptible smile from Shoto. It wasn’t victory, not yet—but it was enough. He was still standing. Still fighting. Still alive.
Bakugo exhaled shakily, dropping to one knee himself. “Damn it… you idiot,” he whispered. Relief, fear, and something deeper churned in his chest. Shoto had pushed himself to the limit and survived. Bakugo didn’t care about anything else right now—he just wanted to make sure Shoto got home safely.
Somewhere in the distance, the civilians cheered quietly. Bakugo stood, dusted himself off, and muttered, “Now… come back. Come back to me.”
On the screen, Shoto’s fire and ice slowly faded, his body trembling from exhaustion, but he raised a hand as if to answer the silent plea. The battle wasn’t over yet, but for Bakugo, that single gesture was everything.
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